10 Herbs for a Supple, Youthful Skin

A supple, youthful skin represents one’s health & beauty. We all desire to have a radiant, gorgeous, and rejuvenating skin, but due to daily exposure of our skin to various environmental challenges and chemical synthetic beauty products, it loses its vitality with passing time. Therefore, to minimize the signs of aging with a healthy, youthful skin, it is essential for one to adopt a healthy lifestyle. A nutritional balanced diet, enriched with essential proteins and vitamins, helps in slowing down the effects of aging. Besides good nutrition, adequate sleep, stress management, and an appropriate exercise regimen are the keys in maintaining a good health. Skin is one of our vital organs that covers almost the entire body, and Collagen is an abundant protein of it that helps to keep it younger looking and vibrant. The level of collagen in the body falls with age, resulting in sagging skin and wrinkles. There are safe and effective herbal remedies that can boost collagen production in the body. These natural alternatives reduce the risk of premature aging by boosting metabolism and scavenging free radicals attack. For example, Panax Ginseng, which is a strong anti-oxidant and adaptogen, is a perennial herb that can safeguard us all against wrinkles, fine lines, photo aging, dark spots, etc.

Here is a list of 10 natural herbs that can give a supple and youthful looking skin.

#1 Ginseng

Ginseng is a medicinal herb that has been traditionally used for centuries as a “all healing” natural medicine in China, Korea, and Japan; The use of ginseng is quite popular as an anti-aging treatment. Ginseng is a well-known antioxidant which prevents free radical attack and enhances the effectiveness of existing collagen. With its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, Ginseng has been found to increase the amount of collagen in the bloodstream, leading to anti-aging benefits. Korean Red Ginseng reduces stress, strain, blood sugar level, and blood cholesterol, and slows down aging process. Ginseng’s efficacy in lowering blood pressure and stress leads to a healthy blood circulation in the body, which results in a clear and glowing skin.

Ginseng is the top herb of choice to take for enhancing beauty with increasing age. Its powdered roots can be taken orally or supplemented with milk shakes. Ginseng herbal tea is another delightful way to take it at different times in the day.

#2 Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has been known since ancient times for its anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and skin healing properties. It is a popular herb in Indian Ayurveda for skin-related problems likes blisters and peeling skin. It removes dullness, dryness, roughness, and sagging of skin. Its thick juice can be applied as gel for several skin ailments including acnes, pimples, skin rashes, sunburns, and skin allergies. It can also be used to treat inflamed skin or as post-burn treatment. It has a moisturizing and cooling effect. Besides directly applying the gel on skin, Aloe Vera juice can also be taken orally. The cleaned, peeled succulent stems, which has a pungent, slightly bitter taste, can also be eaten raw.

Use aloe vera juice or the pulp from the leaves and apply on your skin regularly and measure the considerable difference to your skin. Aloe face masks not only keep your skin healthy, but also generate with glowing and radiant skin. It helps dark spots to fade away and also lightens acne scars, and even treats minor burns.

#3 Turmeric

Turmeric is a regular spice used in Indian curries and cooking. It is well-known for its antibiotic and antioxidant properties. It is also known as a blood purifier and its anti-bacterial and anti-ageing properties impart a natural glow and radiance to the skin. It reduces oxidative stress, prevents from degenerative disease, and protects from tissue damage.

Its bioactive ingredient Curcumin is a powerful anti-oxidant that prevents cell damage. The Curcuminoid helps prevent wrinkles, scars, dark spots, and other signs of aging. It lightens fine lines and wrinkles and makes the skin supple and glowing. When applied locally as a paste, turmeric powder maintains the elasticity of the skin and tightens it from sagging. It helps to regenerate new cells and makes the skin look brighter and shiny.Its anti-bacterial properties help in ameliorating acne, pimples, skin rashes, and other minor imperfections. It also helps in preventing and reversing damage caused by pollution, dust, and grime; and also due to excessive exposure to sun. It is a great protector against tanning and pigmentation.

#4 Gingko Biloba

Gingko Biloba is a powerful anti-oxidant and proves to be a strong defense against skin-aging and combats fine lines and wrinkles effectively. It blocks free radical formation and the harmful UV rays of the sun from damaging skin. The free radicals in the skin cause lines, puffiness, and sagging skin. Gingko Biloba makes the skin firm and tight by increasing collagen in the skin and regenerating new cells which make the skin supple and young.

The flavonoids in the gingko extract improve blood circulation and purify blood, and the effect can be discerned from the glowing skin. Its anti-bacterial properties help in reducing the effects of acne, pimples and other similar problems. Gingko is best taken as Gingko herbal tea; and can also be applied locally as a skin-toner.

Herb #5: Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola is a popular medicinal herb found in Asia; especially in India, China, and Indonesia; and Africa. It belongs to the parsley family and is renowned as an effective herb for its anti-aging and antibacterial properties. For centuries, it has been taken as a popular herbal tea.Being a powerful antioxidant, it helps to fight the free radicals and protects the skin from pollution, dirt, dust, and UV rays. It is also a good toner for the hyper-pigmented skin.

It also acts as a stress-reliever and relaxes and soothes the body resulting in restful sleep. This helps in improving blood circulation which leads to a glowing skin. Besides boosting collagen it also helps in new cell regeneration. These help in removing fine lines and wrinkles making the sagging skin look firmer and toned.

Herb #6: Rosemary

Rosemary has anti-aging, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a rich source of potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin B like riboflavin and pyridoxine. Its powerful antioxidants protect the skin from free-radical-induced skin damage and help in slowing down the aging process. It reduces wrinkles and fine lines. It removes the roughness and enhances the color and tone of the skin.

Rosemary is also effective in curing and eliminating acne. Its strong anti-bacterial properties help in treating skin conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema. By lightening the dark spots and areas, it improves skin clarity and brightness. It protects the collagen level of the skin and its continual use helps in getting a soft and supple skin. It can be taken as a smoothie or shake. It is also a popular herbal tea.

Herb #7: Chamomile

Chamomile is considered as nature’s gift due to the large numbers of benefits associated with it. It has been found to be useful and effective in the treatment of skin and restoring its shine and vitality. Many cosmetic products have chamomile as an added ingredient due to this reason.

The bioactive component, alpha-bisabolol, found in chamomile reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the skin. Chamomile fastens the healing process of the skin, which lightens marks and dark spots. It also possesses anti-irritant properties that soothe the skin and is widely used in male cosmetics, including shaving cream and after-shave products. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Taking chamomile herbal tea is the best way to ingest its wonderful properties. In addition, cooled chamomile tea can also be used as a face wash or skin-toner. The used tea bags can also be placed over the facial skin to get maximum advantage out of chamomile as a natural skin rejuvenatory.

Herb #8: Lavender

Lavender is an anti-bacterial, anti-aging herb. It is stress reliever and helps to reduce anxiety and depression while soothing the nervous system. Restful sleep helps in better blood circulation in the skin. The essential oil can be used in several ways besides being added to food. The lavender herbal tea is quite a popular and beneficial tea.

Lavender improves the skin and imparts a wonderful clarity and tone. It has powerful antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. This helps in getting rid of acne, reversing the skin aging, and healing and rejuvenating the skin at a cellular level.

Herb #9: Bilberry

Bilberries are small blue berries which are packed with antioxidants and vitamins. They help fight the signs of aging including wrinkles, dark spots, and scars. The vitamins boost collagen formation that result in skin elasticity and firmness. The bioactive ingredients in Bilberries are known as quercetin, which acts as a powerful antioxidant.

Herb #10: Saffron

Saffron is an exotic herb which has been traditionally used for preventing skin-ageing; protecting and nourishing the skin; and making it look youthful and glowing. Every thin sliver of saffron is filled with vitamins and various anti oxidants, which improve blood circulation and make the skin shine and look more youthful.

Saffron boosts collagen formation and regeneration of cells making the skin look renewed and fresh. It also fights the free radicals; and makes the skin look firm, tightened, and well-nourished.

Conclusion

Besides those listed here, there are many herbs that have been known to be beneficial to the skin. These herbs contain bioactive ingredients and compounds that have amazing benefits which cover the entire body and mind. Here, only those herbs have been taken up that deliver extra ordinary benefits to the skin. Instead of spending on expensive chemical cosmetic products that may turn out to be harmful in the long run, relying on natural products that have proven benefits is more prudent. These traditional anti-aging herbs like panax red ginseng, saffron, lavender etc. can make the skin look glowing, supple, and youthful.